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Letter
from the President
Fall,
2007. Time flies; as I come to
the last few months of serving
as President of SNRS, I notice
that it seems like just a short
time since I was elected. At the
time I ran for office, we were
approaching our 20th anniversary,
and my hope in serving as president
was to acknowledge the wisdom
that guided the organization over
our first 20 years and to determine
how we wanted to build on that
wisdom and seek new knowledge
to best position ourselves for
the future.
Working
to make the transition to our
consolidated management firm was
one of the first tasks the 2006-2008
Board undertook. Eighteen months
after making that move, we are
seeing improvements in every aspect
of our operations. In this issue
of Southern Connections, you will
be able to learn more about accomplishments
in the areas of awards and the
Research Interest Groups. In addition,
please spend a few minutes exploring
the information regarding our
2008
Annual Conference, Health
Disparities-Evidence into Action,
to be held in Birmingham,
Alabama
from February 21-23. Once you
see the program, I'm sure you
will agree that the abstract reviewers
and the Alabama Local Planning
Committee (headed by Dr. Anne
Turner-Henson) have done an outstanding
job. In addition, our SNRS Vice-President,
Cindy Russell, has provided oversight
and ensured connection between
our management firm and the work
of both the Local Planning Committee
and the SNRS Program Committee.
We hope to break the attendance
record that we set in San Antonio
(723)!
Vote!
Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote!
Vote! Vote! Vote!
This fall, we will be electing
two new members to the Board and
two new members to the Nominating
Committee, as well as a President-Elect
and Secretary. Please participate
in the election of new officers
by voting before November 2. Over
the past few years, we have had
a very low percentage of members
who participate in the election
of officers. Please take advantage
of this member benefit and help
contribute to the future of SNRS.
The email announcement of your
online ballot has arrived, please
vote.
Currently
on the national scene, the Council
for the Advancement of Nursing
Science's Abstract Submission
System is open for the 2008
State of the Science Congress
on Nursing Research. Abstracts
may be submitted until January
15, 2008.
During the last
few months of my term of office, I look forward to working with
members of the Board and organization to make visible to the
membership our strategic plan to promote nursing research in our
region. The plan includes maximizing fiscal resources, enhancing
the awards and small grants program, improving networking opportunities
outside the annual meeting, engaging those across the research
career lifecycle in the organization, and ensuring effective
communication within the organization and among its members.
My thanks to
each of you for your continued support of SNRS, and to each of the
members of the SNRS Board for their dedication, commitment and hard
work on behalf of the members of SNRS. It continues to be an honor
and a privilege for me to serve as President of this organization.
D. Patricia Gray, RN, PhD
President
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From
the Editor
The fall semester for academic
facilities is now upon faculty
members. With the return to school
from the summer break, faculty
members and others are gearing
up to again jump into research
endeavors. Classes are starting.
New faculty members are trying
to learn where everything is within
the new world that they have joined.
Seasoned faculty members are re-
assessing where they are with
projects and looking toward new
projects.
SNRS is no
different than any other group. The fall brings expectations of the
Annual convention (scheduled in February). The officer and Board
member election is taking place. The conference abstracts have been
reviewed and notifications concerning who will be presenting at the
conference have been sent. Everyone is gearing up for another busy
time with lots of challenges and excitement.
Within this
newsletter, we have a poem written by a graduate student who
attended the convention last February. She has provided a scholarly
look at the poster presentation process through the eyes of someone
who is a novice to the academic world. We all need to step back at
times and really look at the things we are doing. All of us get
caught up in running from project to project instead of savoring
the moment of the project. To stop and enjoy the experience (even
when it may not be positive) is important to do as we endeavor to
connect with students and peers.
This newsletter
provides a look at some of the Research Interest Groups (RIGs). The Aging RIG has communicated a summary
of the activities undertaken by the group over the past year.
Please take a moment to become acquainted with this group. As
members of SNRS, each of us needs to become increasingly aware of
the work done by the different RIGs. The
members of the different RIGs must
challenge the group to strive for excellence in the vision for the
group. Get involved with the specific RIGs
that you have signed up to participate in. Become an integral
member of the group. The RIGs provide you
with an opportunity to collaborate with colleagues to advance the
profession of nursing.
Other areas of interest within the newsletter relate to the
different functions within SNRS. The February convention, this
month's election, and upcoming opportunities are presented with a
hope of challenging you to become increasingly involved with the
group.
Carol Boswell
Editor, Southern Connections
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SNRS
2008: 22nd Conference of the Southern
Nursing Research Society
Birmingham,
Alabama, February 21-23, 2008
Our
next annual meeting will be held
in Birmingham,
Alabama February 21-23, 2008.
Join
your colleagues to hear about
the latest research, network and
enjoy Birmingham.
We have planned a full program
of pre-conference workshops, papers,
symposia, posters, panels, and
networking sessions. The SNRS
Board and the Alabama Local Planning
Committee are pleased to present
the program for the 22nd
Annual SNRS Conference, "Health
Disparities: Evidence into Action."
A few
highlights...
- Doctoral
student members will be able to participate in an impressive
Doctoral Student Networking and Mentoring Session on Thursday
morning.
- Dr
Martha Hill will present the Council for the Advancement of
Nursing Science sponsored conference keynote address, The
2002 IOM Report "Unequal Treatment: Confronting Ethnic
and Racial Disparities in Healthcare"-A five (5) year
follow- up.
- Friday
evening, join our Alabama Schools of Nursing colleagues at the
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, as we bring the conference
theme alive, 'Health Disparities: Evidence into Action.'
- Abstracts
of excellence will be recognized this year via special plenary
sessions on Friday and Saturday morning.
- The
program on Saturday has been expanded to include a third
poster session, a plenary session and a closing session. We
encourage members to take advantage of the entire conference
and the networking opportunities that will be available
throughout.
- We
have added networking times throughout the conference days.
Join nursing leaders on Thursday at lunch, and then take
advantage of the breakfast and lunchtime networking
opportunities on Saturday. Box lunches will be available for
purchase for networking events scheduled during lunch.
- Three
poster sessions are scheduled, again organized by Research
Interest Groups.
- We
have provided two times for Research Interest Group (RIG)
meetings, Thursday and Friday late afternoons. Members who
participate in more than one RIG will now have an opportunity
to attend up to two RIG meetings.
- The
Silent Auction will return! Last year, we raised over $3000
which funded a second dissertation research award. Consider
contributing an item representing your school, institution or
your local culture, to contribute to our growing SNRS Research
fund.
We look forward to welcoming
you to Birmingham,
Alabama,
a city of classic southern charm
and hospitality, a city rich in
civil rights history, and a city
of diversity. Join your SNRS colleagues
as we share our nursing research
and network with each other at
SNRS 2008. From the world-class
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail,
the Barber Motorsports Park and Museum, to unique shopping and
nightlife, Birmingham
has a range of resources and amenities
that will impress! To assist in
planning your visit, check out
the Birmingham Convention and
Visitors Bureau web
site.
Anne
Turner-Henson, DSN, RN
Chair, Local Planning Committee
Cynthia Russell, PhD, RN
Vice President, SNRS
Annual Conference Information
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SNRS
Small Grant Award:
Charlene Krueger, ARNP, PhD
Heart
Rate Variability and Learning
in the Preterm
The purpose of
this study is to investigate the beneficial impact of exposure to
maternal voice on learning (detection of a cardiac orienting
response) and normative changes in heart rate variability (HRV) in
the 28-to-34 week old preterm infant. Funding will be used to
enroll additional subjects to an existing study to achieve adequate
power to detect statistical significance. In addition to completed
subjects, an additional twenty subjects will be sampled by
convenience. Subjects will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups.
From the 28th to the 34th post-menstrual week, Group 1
infants will listen to a CH recording of their mothers reciting a
rhyme. Group 2 will receive standard NICU care from the 28th
to the 34th post-menstrual week, and then begin listening to the CD
recording until their 34th week. Seven test sessions will be
performed from birth (28 weeks of age) until the 34th
post-menstrual week. Heart rate and HRV will be recorded each week.
Heart rate will be used to detect a cardiac orienting response or
small heart rate deceleration in response to presentation of the
nursery rhyme and HRV will be analyzed using spectral analysis.
Co-Investigators:
MaryLou Behnke, MD and Hans vanOostrom, PhD
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RIGs Update
Jennifer Wenzel RIGs
Chair
Since the last SNRS meeting in
Galveston, the SNRS
RIGs
have been busy highlighting researcher
accomplishments in their respective
areas. The Education RIG, led
by Chair Carol Boswell (Texas
Technical University HSC) and
Co-chair Ellen Buckner (UAB) are
in the final stages of preparing
the first RIG-sponsored SOJNR
issue, expected this fall. Health
Promotion Chair Sheila Davis (University
of Mississippi Medical Center
School of Nursing) has been leading
efforts to review manuscripts
for the next planned RIG-sponsored
SOJNR issue to be published in
February. Response to the SOJNR
special calls has been high, and
we look forward to featuring RIG
researchers as the SOJNR moves
to a new focus on RIG-sponsored
issues.
The
work of the Parent-Child RIG,
led by Chair Anne Turner-Henson
(UAB) is also featured in a special
RIG-sponsored symposium, a concept
successfully implemented for the
first time in Galveston
at the 2007 meeting. Future RIG-sponsored
symposia are planned.
Finally, the Qualitative RIG, led by Chair Nancey France (Murray State
University)
and new Co-chair Noreen
Esposito (UNC-CH),
has been working to put together
a Qualitative Pre-Conference to
build on the success of their
successful RIG-sponsored symposium
at the 2007 meeting.
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Aging/Gerontology
Research Activities
Eileen Rossen,
Chair; Leanne
Lefler,
Co-chair
Our membership reported a variety
of research topics related to
issues of aging that include Alzheimer's
disease, cancer, caregiving, chronic illness, COPD, heart failure,
and late-life relocation. Specifically,
Dr. Catherine Cole has a funded
K23 award for a study entitled
"The Effect of Sleep Fragmentation
on Attention in Persons with Alzheimer's
Disease." Also, Dr. Elaine
Amella
has R15 NINR funding for a study
of meals at home for persons with
late stage dementia. Dr. Amella
has also submitted an R21 for
a formative study of tube feeding
versus hand feeding for persons
with late stage dementia. Dr.
Geri Bennett reported that she
has pending funding for a study
related to prostate cancer. Bill
Buron
reported he has received a Hartford
Predoctoral
Scholarship (2006-2008) for "Preserving
Personhood in Long Term Care Residents
Living with Dementia." Dr.
Marie-Louise Friedemann has funding related to "Culture,
Family Patterns, and Caregiver
Resource Use. Dr. Diana Pierini
reported that she too is working
on caregiver research. Dr. Georgia
Narsavage
reported SON funding for her research
on COPD Readmission. Dr. Leanne Lefler
has received pilot funding from
a P20 Center (NINR Tailored
Biobehavioral
Intervention
Research Center)
for her work "Medication
Adherence in Older Women with
Heart Disease." Dr. Eileen
Rossen reported funding for
development of an instrument "Self-
Efficacy Relocation Scale."
In addition to sharing research interests and
topics, the members set goals that included developing yearly
awards for recognition of Aging RIG members (e.g., beginning researcher,
senior scientist), networking, sponsoring an issue of the Southern
Journal of Nursing Research, and planning for a symposium. Our
annual meeting was sponsored by the Hartford Center of Geriatric
Nursing Excellence from the University of Arkansas
for Medical Sciences.
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Parent-Child
RIG
Anne
Turner-Henson, RIG Chair
Hello from the Parent-Child RIG.
Our enthusiastic group has a large
number of members, 215 nurse scientists
engaged and working to improve
the health and lives of children,
adolescents, parents and families.
Under the leadership of Dr Marti
Rice, our RIG will sponsor the
symposium, "Methodological
Issues and Challenges in Conducting
Research with Mothers, Fathers,
Children, Adolescents and Families".
Come hear nurse scientists from
the Parent-Child RIG as we discuss
methodological issues such as
fathers in research, recruitment
and retention, human development,
assent, and community participatory
research at the upcoming SNRS
2008 Annual Conference in Birmingham,
Alabama.
In Birmingham
our RIG will be giving the first student poster award in honor of Dr.
Marge Miles. Dr. Miles has made many significant contributions not
only to SNRS, but has provided great leadership in maternal child
health research. We as a RIG are pleased to sponsor this student
poster award that provides a small monetary award along with the
certificate. Come celebrate the leadership of Dr Miles as we
present this first student poster award in her honor.
We look forward to increasing our membership. If you
are new to SNRS and interested in joining the Parent- Child RIG,
feel free to email Dr. Turner-Henson turnhena@uab.edu or Angela Green
GreenAngelaL@uams.edu
for more information. We look forward to seeing each of you in Birmingham
for SNRS 2008.
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Nursing
Administration RIG
Ruby
Morrison, Chair; Lynne
Nemeth Co-chair
The
Nursing Administration RIG has
127 members. The SNRS Board of
Directors encouraged RIGS to develop
activities that would encourage
senior researchers to attend and
share their expertise with the
full membership. The Nursing Administration
RIG plans to present a symposium
at a future convention and would
encourage members to submit suggestions
for collaborative projects to
either of the co-chairs, Dr. Lynne
Nemeth nemethl@musc.edu
or Dr. Ruby Morrison rmorriso@bama.ua.edu
for immediate or long-term RIG
activity. Please make your plans
to attend the 2008 Conference
in Birmingham
for networking with, learning
from, and encouraging each other.
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Thought
Builders
Kristina
Ibitayo,
RN, MSN
Froth
tipped waves heralding,
Fog tumbling in,
Caravan of dreamers,
They are coming,
Rolling, just rolling.
Conference
attendees,
Paths crisscrossing,
Congested highways,
Rolling, just rolling,
They are coming.
Over bridges to
nowhere,
Islands alone,
Solo silos,
Independent dreamers,
Thought builders,
No crowd followers,
Rolling, just rolling.
Researchers
strolling,
Views airing,
Gathering they glean,
Visages gleam,
Rolling, just rolling.
Exploring
possibilities,
Conceptual links,
Partnerships form,
New maps
To horizons unformed,
Rolling, just rolling,
They are here.
By Kristina Ibitayo, RN,
MSN
UTA PhD Nursing Student
kibitayo@uta.edu
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Southern Nursing Research
Society
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